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Somalia, Kenya’s Vietnam?

Kenya just doesn’t seem to get it. Lost in the minutiae of military detail, a Kenyan army colonel claimed they were at the halfway point of their mission to rid Somalia of Al Shabaab. Have they learnt nothing from Afghanistan? Iraq? Vietnam? Weapons don’t win wars any more, and until Kenya and its African allies figure out a political solution, Al Shabaab isn’t going anywhere. …

But this war is not just about military might. Iraq is a rather instructive example. War has changed in the last century and possession of the biggest guns is no longer sufficient to guarantee victory. America went into Iraq in 2003 with the most fearsome military this world has ever seen, effortlessly swatting away Saddam Hussein’s ill-equipped and poorly motivated army. But, as Bush was to discover, this conventional dominance couldn’t win the war and certainly couldn’t keep the peace.

Two majors and four lieutenants are among 15 Kenya Defence Forces officers who have been killed in the last 100 days since Kenya sent its troops to Somalia. In their quest to take over Dhobley, Ras Kamboni, Beles Qooqani, Tabda, Amuma, Buale, Dheere, Oddo, Fafadun, Afmadhow, Afgoye, Jilib, Dinsoor and Bardheere, Kenyan troops have paid the ultimate price.

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KENYA: A lawyer for a British man held in Kenya over alleged links to Somalia’s al-Shebaab Islamist rebels and possession of explosives has said his client was beaten in prison to extract a confession.

Chacha Mwita says Jermaine Grant and another suspect were beaten after their arrest in December.

Mr Mwita also said London-born Mr Grant was being held in solitary confinement.

He was jailed for three years for immigration offences and lying to a government official about his identity.

He is also charged with conspiring to commit a crime and possessing explosive materials.